Chloe Adams
Roman candles are a traditional type of firework that ejects one or more stars or exploding shells. They are constructed with bentonite, lifting charge, pyrotechnic stars, black powder, and delay charge. Roman candles come in a variety of sizes, with consumer-firework candles being as small as 0.24 inches in diameter and professional-display candles reaching up to 3.1 inches in diameter. Making Roman candles can be challenging, and it is recommended that only responsible adults with prior experience in pyrotechnics attempt to create them. The construction process involves cutting a cardboard tube, sealing one end, and filling it with a specific mixture of chemicals and delaying charges to create the desired effect.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Difficulty level | Medium to challenging |
| Ideal for | Adults with pyrotechnic experience |
| Safety precautions | Work in a cool area, away from sources of flame, flammable materials, pets, people and structures |
| Materials | Cardboard tube, clay or sawdust, paper or masking tape, epoxy glue, pyrotechnic star, black powder, delay charge, flash powder, sparkler coatings, water, tissue paper, pencil, bentonite, lifting charge, strontium nitrate, strontium carbonate, aluminium powder, nitric acid, strontium chloride, barium chlorate, potassium chlorate, charcoal |
| Sizes | 6 mm (0.24 in) diameter for consumers, up to 8 cm (3.1 in) diameter in professional fireworks displays |
| Colours | Various |
| Origin | China |
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What You'll Learn
- Ingredients: bentonite, lifting charge, pyrotechnic star, black powder, and delay charge
- Preparation: roll ingredients into a ball, add to tube, seal with clay or epoxy glue
- Ignition: light from the top, pointed up and away from people
- Function: flame moves down tube, igniting layers, shooting stars into the air
- Safety: banned in some countries, illegal in some US states, not for beginners
Ingredients: bentonite, lifting charge, pyrotechnic star, black powder, and delay charge
Roman candles are traditional tube-shaped fireworks that eject one or more stars or exploding shells. They are constructed with bentonite, lifting charge, pyrotechnic star, black powder, and delay charge.
The bentonite is used to construct the tube of the candle. The pyrotechnic stars are packed loosely into the tube, with a layer of black powder lift charge beneath them. The lift charge is a type of black powder that propels the stars out of the tube. The delay charge is packed tightly above the stars to prevent the flame from reaching the sides of the tube. It burns slowly, and when it is consumed, the flame moves down to ignite the stars. The stars are ignited and propel out of the tube, igniting the layer of lift charge beneath them. This process repeats until the candle burns up completely.
The black powder lift charge is made up of loosely granulated black powder. The delay charge is made from delay powder, also known as delay composition, which is packed tightly into the tube to prevent the fire from spreading prematurely. The pyrotechnic stars are available in a variety of colours, which are manipulated by adding compounds that release visible light and other radiation when ignited. For example, when potassium perchlorate is used as an oxidizer, it creates barium compounds that emit green light.
The construction of a Roman candle is a tricky process, as the delay composition must be compacted solidly enough to prevent the fire from being blown down the tube prematurely when the star is shot out. This is an inherent conflict, as the delay composition sits on top of a loose star and loosely granulated black powder lift charge. If the delay composition is not compacted enough, it can result in stars firing from the tube in a rapid and uneven manner, multiple stars firing at once, or the paper tube rupturing due to the amount of pyrotechnic material.
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Preparation: roll ingredients into a ball, add to tube, seal with clay or epoxy glue
Roman candles are traditional fireworks that shoot fireballs into the air. They are constructed with bentonite, a lifting charge, a pyrotechnic star, black powder, and a delay charge. The delay powder is packed tightly in the tube so that the flame cannot reach around the sides of the plug.
To make a Roman candle, start by collecting the coatings from two 6-inch sparklers and mixing them with a small amount of flash powder and black powder or Pyrodex. The ratio should be 60% sparkler, 20% flash powder, and 20% Pyrodex. Next, add water to this mixture, a drop at a time, until you can roll it into a ball that fits inside the bore of your tube. Roll as many of these as you need and let them dry.
Now, you can begin the preparation: take one of the balls and drop it into the tube, on top of the black powder. Then, press tissue paper, sawdust, or a small amount of clay on top of the ball. You can use the eraser end of a pencil to tamp the paper or sawdust into the tube. This layer acts as a delaying charge, preventing additional layers from burning all at once so that each charge shoots into the air.
Finally, seal the bottom of the tube with a clay plug or epoxy glue. This step is crucial to ensure that the charge moves upward and out of the tube instead of escaping through the bottom. About 1/2 inch of clay should be sufficient, but you can use more if needed.
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Ignition: light from the top, pointed up and away from people
Roman candles are fireworks constructed with bentonite, lifting charge, pyrotechnic stars, black powder, and delay charge. The device is ignited from the top, which should be pointed into the sky, away from people. The delay powder is packed tightly in the tube, so that the flame cannot reach around the sides of the plug of delay composition. It therefore burns slowly; as it is consumed, the flame moves down through the tube.
Roman candles are banned in some countries as they have a tendency to malfunction. They are banned in Finland and the Netherlands and are illegal to possess or set off in several U.S. states. Roman candles should only be constructed and used by responsible adults. Check local guidelines to make certain they are legal where you live.
Roman candles come in a variety of sizes, from 6 mm (0.24 in) in diameter for consumers to 8 cm (3.1 in) in diameter for professional fireworks displays. For a home project, it is best to start small. A 1/2" tube is the easiest and safest to work with, as you have space to add the materials and have a fairly small charge.
To make a Roman candle, cut the tube to a length of 10". Wrap the tube with paper or masking tape to reinforce it, so that the charge shoots up and out of the tube rather than splitting the cardboard open. Seal the bottom of the tube with a clay plug. About 1/2" of clay is good, although more can be used.
The delay charge is what prevents additional layers of material from burning all at once, so that each charge will shoot into the air. One way to make the delay charge is to collect the coatings from two 6-inch sparklers and mix them with a small amount of flash powder and black powder or Pyrodex (by volume, 60% sparkler, 20% flash powder, 20% Pyrodex). Add water to this mixture, a drop at a time, until you can roll it into a ball that just fits inside the bore of your tube. Drop a ball into the tube, on top of the black powder. Press tissue paper, sawdust, or a small amount of clay on top of the ball.
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Function: flame moves down tube, igniting layers, shooting stars into the air
Roman candles are a type of traditional firework that shoots coloured fireballs into the sky. They are constructed with bentonite, lifting charge, pyrotechnic stars, black powder, and delay charge. The delay powder is packed tightly in the tube, so the flame cannot reach around the sides of the plug of delay composition.
Roman candles are ignited from the top, pointed upwards and away from people and property. The delay charge composition burns slowly, and as it is consumed, the flame moves down the tube. When the flame reaches the topmost pyrotechnic star, it ignites it. The star fits loosely in the tube, so the fire spreads around it and ignites the lift charge. The lift charge burns quickly, propelling the star out of the tube and igniting the layer of delay powder beneath it. This process repeats for each star in the tube.
The pyrotechnic stars of Roman candles come in a variety of colours. These colours are manipulated by adding compounds that, when ignited, release visible light and other radiation. The stars are primed on their ends and sides so that fire is transferred as quickly as possible from top to bottom.
There are numerous formulas for creating Roman candles, depending on the desired effect. A basic recipe involves mixing the coatings from two 6-inch sparklers with flash powder, black powder or Pyrodex, and water. This mixture is then rolled into balls, dried, and dropped into the tube. Tissue paper, sawdust, or clay is then pressed on top to create a delaying charge, preventing all the layers from burning at once.
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Safety: banned in some countries, illegal in some US states, not for beginners
Roman candles are banned in some countries and US states due to safety concerns and their tendency to malfunction. They are illegal to possess or set off in several US states, including California, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, and Rhode Island.
In the United States, the sale, possession, and use of fireworks, including Roman candles, are regulated by federal, state, and local laws. Some states have banned the individual consumer possession and use of Roman candles, while others allow their use with certain restrictions. It is important to check the local laws and regulations before purchasing, possessing, or using Roman candles to ensure compliance with the law and to avoid any legal consequences.
The safety concerns associated with Roman candles have led to restrictions and bans in some places. These fireworks should not be ignited while holding them in your hand. It is important to place the Roman candle in a stable bucket of sand or a hard, non-flammable object before lighting it. A safe distance of 100 feet between the firework and people or animals is recommended to prevent injuries.
The misuse and malfunction of fireworks, including Roman candles, have resulted in injuries and deaths. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were eight reported deaths and approximately 9,700 injuries related to fireworks in 2023. The risks of injuries, property damage, and wildfires are among the reasons cited by states that restrict or ban the use of fireworks.
Roman candle construction and use are not recommended for beginners. It is important to have experience with simpler fireworks before attempting to make or use Roman candles. Responsible adults with pyrotechnic experience should handle the construction and ignition of these fireworks.
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Frequently asked questions
Roman candles are a traditional type of firework that ejects one or more stars or exploding shells. They are constructed with bentonite, lifting charge, pyrotechnic star, black powder, and delay charge.
Roman candles come in a variety of sizes, from 6mm (0.24 in) diameter for consumers, up to 8cm (3.1 in) diameter in professional fireworks displays.
Roman candles are made from an explosive mix of chemicals, including nitric acid, strontium nitrate, strontium carbonate, and aluminium powder.
To make a Roman candle, you'll need a cardboard tube, sparkler coatings, flash powder, black powder or Pyrodex, water, tissue paper or sawdust, and clay. Cut the tube to a length of 10", wrap it with paper or tape, and seal the bottom with clay or epoxy glue. Mix the sparkler coatings with the flash powder, black powder or Pyrodex, and water, then roll the mixture into balls that fit inside the tube. Drop a ball into the tube, followed by black powder, and press tissue paper, sawdust, or clay on top.
Roman candles are not considered safe for beginners to make or use. They are banned in some countries and US states due to their tendency to malfunction and should only be constructed and used by responsible adults.
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